Anyone got one of these selection shafts from the outside of a Busso gearbox?

[Guy Mayers]

Wow. Second class post sent Monday and arrives Tuesday. Well done Royal Mail!
Guy

[ProtoTipo]

The C503 mechanical shift gearbox (as in Alfa 164 and Delta 4WD/Integrale) was given a cable shift. (as in some Fiat Coupes and the Alfa 155 12v 2.5 V6)
This was before the later cable shift boxes (C530 and C630, as used with later Bussos)

So in theory, it could be possible to fit the C503 cable shift selector to a pre C503 mechanical shift gearbox.
If that was possible, it would get you round the problem of the 164 mechanical selector shaft operating at the wrong angle for a mid engined car (but the right angle for a FWD car)

[ChrisCar6]

The C503 mechanical shift gearbox (as in Alfa 164 and Delta 4WD/Integrale) was given a cable shift. (as in some Fiat Coupes and the Alfa 155 12v 2.5 V6)
This was before the later cable shift boxes (C530 and C630, as used with later Bussos)

So in theory, it could be possible to fit the C503 cable shift selector to a pre C503 mechanical shift gearbox.
If that was possible, it would get you round the problem of the 164 mechanical selector shaft operating at the wrong angle for a mid engined car (but the right angle for a FWD car)

Now that is useful information Chris!

[ProtoTipo]

Now that is useful information Chris!

A bit on the theoretical side Chris, for now.
Here's a photo of a C503 cable shift box: You can see the redundant mechanical shift webs on the top, just like a 164 gearbox.

[Revs]

When you get round to fitting it get someone to check that the mechanism isn't being fouled by the clutch lever arm when the pedal is fully depressed. That's an issue we've seen on Hawks that's resolved by filing off the right angle corner in the bottom right of the picture above, also check the bracket that clamps onto this rod for fouling in any gear, I suspect that's what's caused a sideways load on the rod and caused the fracture/breakage.
Guy

So a progress report, I ended up with an unexpected twist on the above.

The new (to me) rod has the M8 bolt hole that's half way down something like 20mm further down the rod than the old one. That pushes the coupling bit well into the zone of the clutch arm, so attempting to select 2/4/rev collides.

I have a friend with a pillar drill, and I have an M8 tap and die set. Hopefully we can get it sorted tomorrow.

[Revs]

Final update and another thank you: The wife and I just took the car for a trundle to the local Laithwaites and successfully made it back with a boot full of wine so all working again

The new hole in the replacement shaft (for bolt 8 to go in on the diagram at the top of the thread) worked a treat. When putting it all back together, I realised that when selecting 2,4,R the M12 threaded rod that goes through the aluminium block was just hitting the bush that my new shaft was sliding in, making it hard to select those gears. Looking at the chunk worn on the bush, it had been doing this for as long as I have had the car.
So, threaded rod back out, saw 5mm off the end, put it all back nice and straight rather than the slightly odd angle it always used to be and the gear change is so much better than it has ever been before!

Best go book a ticket for the AGM now I've got a car to turn up in

[john]

Sounds like a result in anyone's book that does!

[Guy Mayers]

Glad you're back on the road!